Otley flood plain protest group plans another drop-in morning (From Wharfedale Observer)
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Otley flood plain protest group plans another drop-in morning
7:14pm Wednesday 18th July 2007 in Local news By Jim Jack
A CAMPAIGN group formed to oppose a 60-home plan for Otley's former Bridge End Auction Mart will hold a second drop-in consultation morning this weekend.
Conserve Otley Riverside Campaign group (CORC) will display the proposals from developer Wharfe Bridge and its own 3D model of how the development could look at Otley Courthouse from 9.30am to 1pm on Saturday.
CORC member John Chippindale said: "The closing date for comments to be made on the application is July 27.
"We will have information available at the Courthouse about the plans and the detailed objections that the campaign is submitting to Leeds planning authority."
The group also now has a website, http://web.mac.com/corc1, up and running with details on how to comment on the plans and with a database of flooding photographs dating from the 1890s to 2007.
CORC secretary Imme Feist said: "We hope people will use the information and photos on our website, contact us to add their name to our campaign, or send us a copy of their objections so we have a record."
Otley MP Greg Mulholland is opposing the plans on the grounds of the risk of flooding and inappropriate size.
He has also written to the Secretary of State for DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) to ask for the whole issue of building in flood risk areas to be reviewed.
He said: "It is frankly just crazy to be proposing a development of this nature on a site that is known to flood.
"In the light of recent floods, the Government should be calling a halt on all such developments on flooding sites. We need to look at this whole issue afresh.
"Apart from that obvious fact, this development is simply inappropriate for the area and would take away from the attractiveness of this very important site in Otley."
The developers have also set up their own website, www.wharfebridge.com, which gives more details of their proposals and allows people to leave comments.
